I think our focus should be the severity of the symptoms of the cold rather than if we get them at all. The germs are out there, but how good our bodies are at defeating them when we are exposed is the important thing. As a non-secretor, they get in me before I can attack them.

I went to NY for a business trip the Monday after Thanksgiving. Besides the normal germs of traveling in a plane and staying in a hotel, I got the bonus of NY subway germs. Plus I didn’t have access to healthy snacks. I had to stay in Queens near JFK because that was where the office that I was auditing was at. It is an industrial area and there were no stores close by. The bus & subway ride into Manhattan took an hour at night after work and was scary. The 1st night I took a cab back & it cost me $50. The 2nd night I found a safer route. The 3rd night I went out with a co-worker. The 4th & 5th night I stayed in my hotel and ate. I am a muncher, so the only snacks available to me made me stray from my B diet much more than usual. Plus who knows what noncompliant ingredients the chefs put in their creations.

The weather in NY was 50 & 60’s. I was suppose to fly home Friday but the blizzard in Chicago closed down all the airports. Then my Saturday flight got delayed, circles around ORD, then taxied until the gate was available. I finally got home at 8:30 PM. So add stress to the weakening of my immune system. Also temperature changes to the teens and single digits. Sunday, when I cleared my windshield, the little dent from a stone spread to a crack across the entire windshield. Since I have a heads up display it cost $600 to fix this weekend. (More stress) My turn signal went out in Petoskey, MI on the previous driving trip. The part came in but I had to wait until this weekend to put it in. So I had an entire week of rolling down the window to stick my hand out to turn left.

Bottom line: On Monday after I got home, I had a sore throat. I took zinc lozenges from the HFS on Monday & Tuesday and put peroxide in my ears. Tuesday I had the deep in your chest cough and a runny nose. I mixed Proberry in my yogurt and put zinc up my nose. Wednesday I had minor sneezes and major mucus. Thursday, Friday & Saturday just the mucus. Today (Sunday) I have a minor stuffy nose. Of course I had to be stick with my B diet this week and drank lots of tea. I also went to my “On the Ball”, “Power Sculpt” and “Yoga-lattes” classes this week. I was a little bit less vigorous than usual, but I felt better afterwards.

If I had not been living a healthy lifestyle before the trip, this cold could have been worse and even developed into bronchitis or pneumonia.

Next week I travel to Ann Arbor, MI in my car stocked with healthy snacks.

I am B- NON-Sec Explorer; my son is B+ SEC Nomad; my Mother was O+; and my Father was AB-SWAMI Thanksgiving present 2008Revised from Arlene B- NonSec to RedLilac on 3/31/06

I too have an inflamed sinus, sore throat, etc. but also know it will not last as long as preBTD. It is already subsiding and this is day3. In the past that would be good for 2 or 3 wks.Plus an asthma attack. I believe that my ability to fight back is greatly enhanced by my style of eating.Is it good to exercize when fighting this off?

I think exercise is okay if your body feels it can handle it. Personally, I always feel better after I finish a session of exercise; however, I have not been terribly sick for a long time, so I can recommend whether your body would feel improved.

You can always exercise and decide to stop before the point of exhaustion or fatigue.Exercise will benefit your body's circulation and blood flow more efficiently.

I heard the rule of thumb is that if your ailments are above the shoulders, then go ahead and exercise. It stimulates your immune system. It is sometimes hard to convince myself to go when I’m not feeling 100%, but I’m almost always glad I did.

Over the years, I only recall leaving a session early once and that is because I didn’t follow the 2nd part of the rule. If your ailments are below the shoulders, don’t exercise.

I am B- NON-Sec Explorer; my son is B+ SEC Nomad; my Mother was O+; and my Father was AB-SWAMI Thanksgiving present 2008Revised from Arlene B- NonSec to RedLilac on 3/31/06

I'm nursing a cold right now. Have made the broth. I'm not sure how the rice/meat combo will work for an O type . Would it be sufficient if I had it for my evening meal? Or is it supposed to be consumed through out the day..?

Sorry your trip to NYC sounds so grim!! I live in NYC and I wish we could have met up so I could show you how great the city is! There are some amazing, healthy restaurants here. I dont' like the idea of you riding that subway to Queens alone. There have been a few rapes/sexual assaults on the subway late at night and at least one of them happened in Queens.

I'm nursing a cold right now. Have made the broth. I'm not sure how the rice/meat combo will work for an O type . Would it be sufficient if I had it for my evening meal? Or is it supposed to be consumed through out the day..?

I do sound a bit daft, dont I?

you can put a little ground meat preferably grass fed and rice which you can cook seperatlely in it for an evening meal. I usually make a big pot of it and have some throughout the day without the rice and meat.

Sorry your trip to NYC sounds so grim!! I live in NYC and I wish we could have met up so I could show you how great the city is! There are some amazing, healthy restaurants here. I dont' like the idea of you riding that subway to Queens alone. There have been a few rapes/sexual assaults on the subway late at night and at least one of them happened in Queens.

I was in NYC on business alone, so I didn’t have any friends to travel into the city with me. Right now my impression of NYC is a scary, busy place but if I had someone to point me in the right direction, it might have left a different impression on me.

If they send me there again, I’ll post here before I go asking for advice.

Thanks for the future offer.

Last week I was in Ann Arbor, MI where I felt more comfortable.I guess I’m just a Midwest lady.

I am B- NON-Sec Explorer; my son is B+ SEC Nomad; my Mother was O+; and my Father was AB-SWAMI Thanksgiving present 2008Revised from Arlene B- NonSec to RedLilac on 3/31/06

I just got back from New York (actually upstate visiting family). It was still warm (40's to 50's during the day). I started to develop a stuffed up nose and scratchy throat. I bought some elderberry tea for my Mother and she enjoyed it. I had a few cups of it during my stay and I think it helped.

When I got back I went to WF because I remembered that the girl showed me a bottle of something called "SambuGuard". It contains wild elderberry (lots of the parts of the plants; I don't have the label in front of me), echineachea, and Vitamin C. It is to be taken up to 4 times a day and not used after 8 days.

Of course, I needed to know why this was so. I called the 800 # and the woman told me it is because it has no preservatives at all and after that determined time the juice can go bad. It is a super immune booster to be taken at the first sign of a cold. It's refrigerated after opening.I'm going to step up the tablespoons to 4 a day and see how I feel. I don't have a cold now but I don't want to waste it as you're not supposed to keep it. It is expensive but if you're really suffering I think it's great, IMHO.

What I got is SambuGuard (www.florahealth.com) It is a product of Dr. Dunner's and is Swiss quality.

I called again their 800 # to ask about taking it even though I have no cold symptons right now. They said yes it is OK to take. It is an immune booster at any time especially during cold and flu season.

I don't know if SambuCol is the same.

Joy

PS I really do feel a difference when I take this and I'm going to see if there is any effect after taking 4 doses a day. I'll let you know either positive or not.